The lamps were lighted continually upon God's command

[Mary Naeem]

Pope Shenouda III





The lamps were lighted continually upon God's command. Extinguishing the lamps' light or negligence in lighting them were considered as treachery to the Lord and deserved severe punishment, . Concerning this, the Holy Bible says: “For our fathers have trespassed and done evil in the eyes of the Lord our God; they have forsaken Him, have turned their faces away from the habitation of the Lord, and turned their backs on Him. They have also shut up the doors of the vestibule, put out the lamps, and have not burned incense... therefore the wrath of the Lord fell upon Judah and Jerusalem, and He has given them up to trouble, to astonishment” (2Chr.29: 6-8). All these show us how God cares for lights in His house.